Throughout the time period of 8000 BCE to 600 CE, the trading systems of China, Africa, and the Roman Empire all had extensive trading routes but differed in the aspects of languages, trade products, and paths
Silk Roads
The Silk Roads got its name from the common Chinese export of silk. Extended from Southeast Asia to the Roman Empire and everywhere in between. The roads included both land and sea routes. Many different goods were traded and they all came from separate places. The Silk Roads also were a place for ideal exchanges, and less favorable, disease exchanges. Islam was partly able to spread because of the Silk Roads and its opporunity to spread their religious ideas.
Route...
The sea route started in the port city of Guangzhou. Then it made its way around India to the Persian Gulf and the Suez Canal. The land route started in Chang’an and ran through the Takamaken Desert. In the desert it splits and comes back together at Kashgar (modern Kashi). Then to Bacteria and it splits to India and the Mediterranean Sea.
The southern route is mainly a single route running through northern India, then the Turkestan–Khorasan region into Mesopotamia and Anatolia; having southward spurs enabling the journey to be completed by sea from various points. It runs south through the Sichuan Basin in China and crosses the high mountains into northeast India, probably via the Ancient tea route. It then travels west along the Brahmaputra and Ganges river plains, possibly joining the Grand Trunk Road west of Varanasi. It runs through northern Pakistan and over the Hindu Kush mountains to rejoin the northern route briefly near Merv. Exports...
Southeast Asia had fine spices like cloves, nutmeg, mace, cinnamon and cardamom
China had silk, cinnamon and ginger
India exported pepper and sesame oil
India also sold exotic items like pearls, coral and ivory
Merchants of different regions handled long-distance trade in stages
On the seas, long-distance trade was dominated by different empires
Africa
Trade in Africa dates back as early as 4000 B.C.E. with the Egypt trading with Nubians. Here was an abundance of goods traded between the two nations such as:
- Ivory
- Ebony
- Leopard Skin
- Ostrich Feathers
- Gemstones
by the Nubians in exchange for:
- Pottery
- Wine
- Honey
and other finished products from Egypt. Later on Egypt began to trade with other nations such as Mesopotamia in as early as 3500 B.C.E. and after 3000 B.C.E. In this trade between these two nations Mesopotamia traded Egypt cedar due to the Pharaoh's liking of trees and the lake of them in Egypt. The Egyptians offered:
- Gold
- Silver
- Linen
- Textiles
- Leather goods
- Dried Food
in exchange for the Mesopotamians cedar. The Egyptians also started trading with East Africa, which they called Punt, in about 1450 B.C.E. The Punt today is probably modern-day Somalia and Ethiopia. From Punt they imported gold, ebony, ivory, cattle, aromatics, and human slaves. Egypt and the Punt exchanged many ideas and technologies helping each of these societies at the time. Although there was probably much trade with Africa besides the trade of the Egyptians not much is known about their trade because of lack of writing and information passed from those tribes.
Ancient Trade Routes
Roman Empire
Roman roads provided networks of transportation and communication throughout the Roman Empire. These roads linked all parts of the empire as well as integrated conquered distant lands into a larger economy and society. In addition to milestones and imperial postal systems, which maintained stations for couriers, road networks permitted urgent travel and messages in an incredible speed.
characteristics...
roads included a drainage systems; deep bed for roads, edged with curbs
allowed the ability of trade in the eastern Mediterranean
pax romana facilitated trade and communication throughout the region
roads provided two way traffic, even through mountains
new cities were used as links to other regions for trade
roman roads around 117 ce
Validated By Bobby Albright: Good Information and great thesis! There were some spelling and grammar issues but I fixed them. Also you didn't mention much about languages as you stated in your thesis.
Validated By Matthew Forsberg: Pretty good information and some good facts put some more facts in about differnt routes taken but pretty good on the whole.
Validated By Lisa D. Phillips: Very well written. Pictures and facts were clear and easy to understand. Specifics about the diseases that were spread and information matching the thesis (lack on languages) would have made it even better.
Throughout the time period of 8000 BCE to 600 CE, the trading systems of China, Africa, and the Roman Empire all had extensive trading routes but differed in the aspects of languages, trade products, and paths
Silk Roads
The Silk Roads got its name from the common Chinese export of silk. Extended from Southeast Asia to the Roman Empire and everywhere in between. The roads included both land and sea routes. Many different goods were traded and they all came from separate places. The Silk Roads also were a place for ideal exchanges, and less favorable, disease exchanges. Islam was partly able to spread because of the Silk Roads and its opporunity to spread their religious ideas.
Route...
The sea route started in the port city of Guangzhou. Then it made its way around India to the Persian Gulf and the Suez Canal. The land route started in Chang’an and ran through the Takamaken Desert. In the desert it splits and comes back together at Kashgar (modern Kashi). Then to Bacteria and it splits to India and the Mediterranean Sea.
The southern route is mainly a single route running through northern India, then the Turkestan–Khorasan region into Mesopotamia and Anatolia; having southward spurs enabling the journey to be completed by sea from various points. It runs south through the Sichuan Basin in China and crosses the high mountains into northeast India, probably via the Ancient tea route. It then travels west along the Brahmaputra and Ganges river plains, possibly joining the Grand Trunk Road west of Varanasi. It runs through northern Pakistan and over the Hindu Kush mountains to rejoin the northern route briefly near Merv.
Exports...
The organization of long-distance trade
Africa
Trade in Africa dates back as early as 4000 B.C.E. with the Egypt trading with Nubians. Here was an abundance of goods traded between the two nations such as:
- Ivory
- Ebony
- Leopard Skin
- Ostrich Feathers
- Gemstones
by the Nubians in exchange for:
- Pottery
- Wine
- Honey
and other finished products from Egypt. Later on Egypt began to trade with other nations such as Mesopotamia in as early as 3500 B.C.E. and after 3000 B.C.E. In this trade between these two nations Mesopotamia traded Egypt cedar due to the Pharaoh's liking of trees and the lake of them in Egypt. The Egyptians offered:
- Gold
- Silver
- Linen
- Textiles
- Leather goods
- Dried Food
in exchange for the Mesopotamians cedar. The Egyptians also started trading with East Africa, which they called Punt, in about 1450 B.C.E. The Punt today is probably modern-day Somalia and Ethiopia. From Punt they imported gold, ebony, ivory, cattle, aromatics, and human slaves. Egypt and the Punt exchanged many ideas and technologies helping each of these societies at the time. Although there was probably much trade with Africa besides the trade of the Egyptians not much is known about their trade because of lack of writing and information passed from those tribes.
Roman Empire
Roman roads provided networks of transportation and communication throughout the Roman Empire. These roads linked all parts of the empire as well as integrated conquered distant lands into a larger economy and society. In addition to milestones and imperial postal systems, which maintained stations for couriers, road networks permitted urgent travel and messages in an incredible speed.
characteristics...
Validated By Bobby Albright: Good Information and great thesis! There were some spelling and grammar issues but I fixed them. Also you didn't mention much about languages as you stated in your thesis.
Validated By Matthew Forsberg: Pretty good information and some good facts put some more facts in about differnt routes taken but pretty good on the whole.
Validated By Lisa D. Phillips: Very well written. Pictures and facts were clear and easy to understand. Specifics about the diseases that were spread and information matching the thesis (lack on languages) would have made it even better.